Kristen Lawrie, LMHC

B.A. Westfield State University
M.S. UMass Boston

Kristen Lawrie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a strong emphasis on preventative mental health care. She has a genuine passion for working with children, particularly those under 10, and believes early support can help children develop emotional awareness, coping and regulation skills, healthy communication, secure relationships, and resilience that serve them throughout their lives. Kristen approaches her work from a non-pathologizing, collaborative, empathic, and trauma-informed perspective. She believes that behavior is communication and seeks to understand the experiences, needs, and emotions underlying a child’s behavior rather than focusing solely on the behavior itself. Her approach is person-centered, holistic, systems-oriented, and strengths-based, while remaining tailored to each child’s developmental level, individual needs, and unique strengths.

Her therapeutic work may include non-directive play therapy, sensory and somatic interventions, art-based interventions, emotional identification and regulation, coping-skill development, healthy communication, psychoeducation, parent coaching, and strengthening the child-parent relationship. When appropriate, Kristen incorporates behavioral strategies and draws from therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Kristen has experience working with children who have experienced trauma, significant life stressors, adjustment challenges, or difficulties within family dynamics, and has a particular passion for supporting children as they navigate these experiences. She works closely and values collaboration with caregivers, schools, other providers, and, when applicable, legal and government agencies involved in a child's care. Kristen also has experience working with children with neurodevelopmental differences, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and recognizes the importance of tailoring therapeutic support to each child’s developmental needs, strengths, and communication style.

In addition to her work with children, Kristen enjoys working with young adults who are navigating adulthood for the first time. She views this developmental stage as another important opportunity for preventative care, helping young adults develop healthy patterns, coping skills, self-awareness, and a strong foundation for emotional well-being as they navigate independence, relationships, identity, and other life transitions. Kristen also works with individuals interested in exploring how past experiences and trauma may have shaped their current thoughts, emotions, relationships, and patterns. When appropriate, she may incorporate inner-child work to foster greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and understanding of earlier experiences. In addition to her clinical work, Kristen serves as a Social Services Expert with the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), working alongside attorneys to provide social-service expertise and support clients as they navigate the legal system. She also has experience providing therapeutic support to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. These experiences have further deepened her understanding of the relationship between trauma, childhood experiences, systems, and an individual’s ability to navigate significant life transitions.

Above all, Kristen strives to create a safe, supportive space where her clients can feel understood, respected, and empowered. She believes therapy can address current challenges while building the skills, relationships, self-awareness, and resilience needed for long-term well-being

In-Person
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Fallon, HPHC, Humana,  Tufts,  WellPoint, WellSense